You want to watch the game with your buddies, but don't want to drive downtown. Yet, there's something about being out in the fresh air with a cold beer and baseball that's hard to beat. How's this? Head over to Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna this Saturday and watch the game on the village green. The Braves-Toronto Blue Jays game will be shown on two giant outdoor screens at 1 p.m. But the fun starts at 11:30 a.m., with games, prizes, food, inflatables for the kids, a drumline and a pregame show with former Brave Mark Lemke and 640 AM, WGST sports director Mitch Evans. The event is free; food and beverages extra. Atkins Park is at 2840 Smyrna Road; 770-435-1887; www.atkinspark.com.
• Kids bored with summer already? Get them in the kitchen. The experts at the Young Chefs Academy, 1290 W. Spring St. in Smyrna, are hosting a "Cook for the Gold" camp where chefs-in-training can earn medals of achievement. The program combines food with fun facts about the Summer Olympics, so kids will take home a bit of knowledge with their global recipes. The daylong camp combines food classes with instruction in martial arts, ballet, yoga, gymnastics and craft. Sessions are scheduled daily from 9 to 4 p.m. through Aug, 1 and priced at $345 per week. 770-432-2616; www.youngchefsacademy.com.
• Summer means menu tweaking at Ritter's, 4719 Lower Roswell Road in Marietta. The regular lineup has been expanded to include sauteed scallops over linguini with bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, shallots and mushrooms in a sherry cream sauce ($23.95) and a full rack of barbecued ribs with fries and slaw ($24.95). A few nightly specials are now served as well. On Sundays, it's prime rib with mashed potatoes, veggies and horseradish cream or au jus sauce ($19.95); Tuesdays are all about old-fashioned meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans ($16.95). You can also order half-priced wines and martinis every Monday and Wednesday. 770-973-1230; www.rittersrestaurant.net.
• Though most people think "bison" when they head to Ted's Montana Grill, it's also a hot spot for cool drinks. The restaurant's bar menu has added several new summer beverages, including a strawberry margarita; a grapefruit and vodka-based Mountain Breeze; a Firewater — 2 ounces of Woodford Reserve bourbon, served with a side of Coca-Cola; and a double espresso martini. Prices range from $8 to $9. Ted's has Cobb locations at the Avenues West Cobb; Cumberland Mall; Kennesaw and Austell. www.tedsmontanagrill.com.
Keep Table Talk lively! Send questions or comments to hm_cauley@yahoo.com, or call 404-514-6162.
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